Cao Lanh

Cao Lanh

A newish town carved from the forests  and swamps of the Mekong Delta region, Cao Lanh is big for business, but draws few tourists.

Sights

Dong Thap Museum 

(226 Ð Nguyen Thai Hoc; 7-11.30am & 1.30-5pm)  The Dong Thap Museum is one of the   Mekong’s best museums, in spite of  having no English captions. The ground floor  demonstrates  an anthropological history of Dong Thap province, with  exhibits of  tools, sculpture,  models of traditional houses and some species of animals  and pickled fish. Upstairs is  devoted to war history and Ho Chi Minh.

War Martyrs Monument MONUMENT

On the eastern edge of town off Hwy 30, the War Memorial (Dai Liet Si) is Cao Lanh’s most prominent landmark, a sculpture along with  a large white concrete statue of a decorated soldier  and flowers in front of a stylised star. The rear of the statue is  illustrated with storks, a  symbol of the Mekong.

Within the grounds are the tombs  of 3112 VC who came to die  fighting in the American War.

Tomb of Nguyen Sinh Sac PARK

(Lang Cu Nguyen Sinh Sac; off Ð Pham Huu Lau; car parking 6000d) The grave  of Ho Chi Minh’s father, Nguyen Sinh Sac (1862–1929), is the centrepiece of a  pretty 9.6-hectare park and model heritage village. The  tomb itself is situated  under a shell-shaped shrine set behind a star-shaped lotus pond.

Though various plaques (in Vietnamese) and tourist pamphlets extol Nguyen Sinh Sac as a great revolutionary, scarce evidence  confirms that he was involved in the anti colonial struggle against the French. Near  the shrine is a small museum devoted to Ho Chi Minh  consisting mainly ofphotos with Vietnamese captions.

The  complex is set  at the southwest heading to  town; turn right after Hoa Long Pagoda and follow the fence around until you get to the entrance.

Sleeping

Hoa Anh HOTEL $

(067-224 0567; hoaanhhotel@yahoo.com.vn; 40 Ð Ly Tu Trong; r from 210,000d) For 210,000d you’ll get a  tidy,  tiny  double with a smallish  bathroom at this fresh-faced hotel not far from  the bus station. The two-bed rooms are large ,  when the more expensive  rooms are possible to fit  a family.

Xuan Mai Hotel  $

(067-385 2852; 33 Ð Le Qui Don; r 200,000-300,000d) A  cavernous restaurant, massage parlour and hotel  mixed into one, this  represents good value, with large  but rather  tacky rooms. Set  behind the post office; rates include breakfast.  No lift.

Nha Khach Dong Thap HOTEL $

(067-387 2670; 48 Ð Ly Thuong Kiet; r 350,000-1,000,000d) A Communist Party special, with large, airy, nice  rooms, a reception dripping in marble, and corridors wide enough to take a jeep. However, little English  is spoken and it has an institutionalised feel.

Song Tra Hotel$$

( 067-385 2624; 178 Ð Nguyen Hue; r US$19-35, ste US$50) The exterior is clunky but rooms are in logical  shape, with large  windows, satellite TV, a minibar and hot water. Staff are  friendlier than you’ll find in most other state-run places.

Eating

Cao Lanh is famous for rice-field rats, in Vietnamese we call chuot dong, so come with room in your stomach to sample the local speciality. At the very least, it’ll be a very interesting story to tell your friends when you come back home.

Ngoc Lan VIETNAMESE $

(210 Ɖ Nguyen Hue; dishes from 35,000d;  8am-9pm) The ‘Magnolia’ is a lively and various choice, with fresh and  tasty pot-cooked pork (35,000d) and mixture of vegetable soup (80,000d). It’s  illuminated with a red-and-green LED sign at night.

A Chau VIETNAMESE $

(067-385 2202; 42 Ð Ly Thuong Kiet; mains 20,000-70,000d) Shut for a refurb at the time of writing, this eatery usually has delicious  banh xeo (fried pancakes, which you roll up and dip in fish sauce) as a speciality.

Information

Dong Thap Tourist ( 067-387 3026; www.dongthaptourist.com; 2 Ð Doc Binh Kieu;  7-11.30am & 1.30-5pm)   An especially friendly, useful  outfit that can  arrange a boat and other tours visiting other places . It also has a branch ( 067-391 8487) at My Hiep village.

Post Office (85 Ð Nguyen Hue) Internet access available.

Getting There & Around

Cao Lanh Bus Station (Ben Xe Cao Lanh; 71/1 Ð Ly Thuong Kiet) is  conveniently set  right in the center  of town, with services to HCMC (65,000d), Sa Dec (15,000d), Vinh Long (17,000d), My Tho (30,000d), Tra Vinh (49,000d), Can Tho(45,000d), Soc Trang (55,000d), Vung Tau (112,000d) and Ca Mau (85,000d).

View  around Cao Lanh will be the best if you visit by river. Although you  could possibly arrange something privately with boat owners, it’s easier for you –  though slightly more expensive – to deal with Dong Thap Tourist. Plan on about $30 for a half-day boat tour.